Working Girl Page #2

Tess

Um, how do I look?

Katherine

You look terrific. You might want to rethink the jewelry....I

want your input Tess. I welcome your ideas and I like to see

hard work rewarded. It's a two-way street on my team. Am I

making myself clear?

Tess

Yes Katherine.

Katherine

And call me Katherine.

Tess

Okay.

Katherine

So, let's get to work, shall we? This department's profile last

year was damn pitiful. Our team has got its work cut out for

it....Okay, thanks.

SCENE 13

Woman

Damn! I forgot my pills again! Damn! It's the third time this

month! Jill, did you hear about that shot they got in Europe?

Jill

Yeah, they're giving it to women.

Woman

Yeah, to women! They're givin' it to in their arm and it's good

for 5 years! I tell you, these damn pills, I'm always forgettin'

em.

SCENE 14

Tess

I thought you might like this.

Woman

Why, thank you.

Katherine

Tess, would you come in here, please? And bring a notebook.

SCENE 15

Katherine

They already sold off both the paper and the printing divisions.

They sell distribution, too, we're talking real scorched

dirt....Come on in. Tess, this is Ginny. Ginny, Tess.

Tess

Hi.

Katherine

Being new in town, I thought I'd I throw a little cocktail thing

to introduce myself to the department, and Ginny here has some

great ideas. Would you jot them down?

Tess

Sure.

Ginny

The caterer is called "Acme Eats." You can get the number from

information. They do the usual hors d'oeuvres and such. The

"Raging Bull" has a bartender service. And the liquor store on

Broadway and Liberty delivers. Got that, Bess?

Tess

Tess. Yeah, um, if that's the way you want to go.

Katherine

You have another idea?

Tess

Well, I was just reading a thing in "W" about dim sum, these

little Chinese dumplings. There's a restaurant on Mott St. that

does them for cocktail parties.

Katherine

Oh, I just love those little dumplings!

Tess

It might be more fun than the usual tidbits. I have it on my

desk. I could get it.

Ginny

You read "W"?

Tess

I read a lot of things. I mean, you never know where the big

ideas could come from. You know?

Ginny

Well, I guess you're right. If dumplings can be considered a big

idea. Well, that oughta get you started...

Katherine

Ginny, thank you so much!

Ginny

It's back to the gold mines!

Katherine

Right....You'll set those up?

Tess

Right away.

Katherine

Dim sum Tess, I like it...contribution-wise. Keep it up!

SCENE 16

Katherine

Then the chief says, "We will respect your wish. We will give

you an honorable death. But first, keke."

Tess

Excuse me. Excuse me. Dim sum?

Jim

So, come on Katherine. What do you say?

Katherine

Jim...the man who spends every weekend in August glued to his

desk--now that man knows that I can't just sneak out of my own

party. I'll tell you what, though. You get me in on the

Southeast Air divestiture plan, I'll buy you a drink. Bottle of

Crystal, two straws? Deal?

Jim

Okey-dokey!

Tess

Dim sum?

Jim

Hi.

Katherine

Thank you. What a slob.

Tess

You were so smooth with him. I probably would have...

Katherine

Never burn bridges. Today's junior prick, tomorrow's senior

partner! So, how do you think the party's going?

Tess

Pretty well, I think. Should I stop serving now?

Katherine

Hmm, better make one more round.

Tess

Right.

Katherine

I'd love to help you, but...we can't busy the quarterback with

passing out the Gatorade. Arnie, my hero! You've come!

SCENE 17

Katherine

Yep?

Tess

Um, I have an idea, and you said I could come to you.

Katherine

Shoot.

Tess

Well, you know how Trask Industries has been looking to buy into

broadcasting?

Katherine

Something about the department is...

Tess

Working on it. Yeah. I've been following it myself, and all of

a sudden I thought, "radio."

Katherine

Trask is looking for television stations.

Tess

Well so is every Tom, Dick and Harry. See, my idea is that they

get their feet wet in radio and build from there. I mean, it's

not as glamorous as jumping right into TV, but it's a solid place

to start and there's a lot more of them for sale. Plus it would

solve Trask's problem with his Japanese competitors, trying to

take him over, because FCC forbids foreign ownership of radio as

well as TV.

Katherine

Interesting. You've been...following this, you say?

Tess

Yeah.

Katherine

No chance you overheard it, say, in the elevator?

Tess

No. No way.

Katherine

Somewhere?

Tess

It's my idea.

Katherine

Good. Good. Discuss it with anyone else?

Tess

Nope. You think that there's something there?

Katherine

Well, I can think it through for you. Why don't you leave me

your notes and I'll have a look-see.

Tess

Okay. Um, I've been trying to get into the Entre Program, and

this would be a big push. I mean if anything...anything happens,

you'll remember....

Katherine

Absolutely, Tess. Two-way street, remember?

Tess

Yeah. Thank you.

SCENE 18

Tess

It's just, it's so exciting! I mean, she takes me seriously.

And I think it's because, and I know you hate it when I say this,

but I think it's because she is a woman. There's none of that

chasing around the desk crap. And it's like, she wants to be my

mentor, which is exactly what I needed! I mean, I feel like I'm

finally gettin' somewhere, Mick.

Mick

Tess, that's great, but let's step on it or the pizza's gonna

freeze, Honey. Come on.

Tess

I mean, maybe we could all go out sometime. You know, dinner in

the city. You would like her, I think.

SCENE 19

Katherine

God, remember when all you had to do was a few buckles?

Tess

Yep, those were the days. I called the inn, and they said all

they can give you is a ground floor single in the new wing.

Katherine

Did you tell them it was me?

Tess

Well, I said Parker.

Katherine

Helmut? (Katherine speaks German to the owner of the inn)....It's

this tower room with a canopy bed and a fireplace big enough to

stand in. Perfect. Everything's in place.

Tess

For what?

Katherine

The man I've been seeing for a while. I think he's it. And I

think this could be the weekend we decide. He said that there

was something very important that he wanted to discuss with me.

I think he's going to pop the question.

Tess

You do?

Katherine

I think so. We're in the same city now. I've indicated that I'm

receptive to an offer. I've cleared the month of June. And I

am, after all, me.

Tess

Well, what if he doesn't pop the question?

Katherine

I really don't think that's a variable. Tess, you know, you

don't get anywhere in this world by waiting for what you want to

come to you. You make it happen. Watch me, Tess. Learn from

me. Oh, by the way, you know, I ran your Trask radio idea by

some of our people, it seems that Trask is dead set on

television. But hey, it wasn't out in left field, either. I

really liked the idea. You just keep plugging, bring me your

ideas, and we'll see what we can do.

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